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This time around, though, luck was not on the couple's side. And, last night when the family yard was attacked by a gunman, 16 year old Chanteuse Martinez sustained multiple shots; her boyfriend 23 year old Mervin Martin was shot to the elbow, and Martin's one year old baby niece was shot to the hand, becoming collateral damage in a war between adults. Cherisse Halsall spoke with a family member today to try to understand what could motivate such senseless violence:

This is the house on Antelope Street extension where a young couple and their niece was shot last night. It happened at around 7:20. The couple was sitting at the front gate while the child was asleep inside the house.

We spoke to the family patriarch earlier today and he recounted the series of events that threatened the lives of every one of his family members.

Cecil Martin, Father,Grand-father, and Father-in-Law of the victims
"Last night I couldn't say what happened I saw young man walk into the yard and start to fire shots. He started to shoot, because I was over the other side of the street sitting down me and my cousin and I just saw a young man come from around the lane, he walked into the yard and started to open fire like he came to kill a whole set of family and wasn't worried about anything."

"Definite, sure, they're supposed to know that this yard has family because we've been here for donkey years."

"The child was in bed with her grandmother sleeping. She was in her bed when she got shot to the hand, right, in her bed with her grandmother. She and her grandmother were there thank god that her grandmother didn't get hit. It was only the child that got hit. God guided the angel that it was only in her hand and it didn't kill her . Because I don't know if they don't have any love for anyone at all or themselves."

"They're the only ones that know why they came to shoot inside the yard to kill who they want to kill."

Today the house and yard bear the evidence of the bullets that rained down on the family. Seven of which have left Chanteuse Martinez in a critical state.

Almost immediately, Police detained two suspects - along with a weapon.

Joseph Myvette, ACP
"What the police know so far is that those persons were outside of their yard on Antelope Street extension when they were approached by a male person who fired shots in their direction causing the aforementioned injury. So far Mr. Martin has been treated and released whilst Melanie Martin the baby remains in a stable condition and Chanteuse Martinez is in critical condition at this time."

"Police investigations so far have also led to two persons being detained which we believe are connected to this investigation and the recovery of a handgun also in the antelope street extension area."

Baby Melanie Martin is reportedly stable and recovering but one look at her sweet twin sister will tell you that it was wanton disregard from the gunman that put an innocent in the line of fire.

Today, baby Melanie's Grandfather told us that as far as he's concerned there was no reason for his family to be targeted.

Cecil Martin
"My son hasn't given me any reason. If he had any conflict with anyone up to know. He hasn't given me any reason to explain why he came. I just saw a man come. I would say man that the devil sent to shoot up the yard."

"He does blocks work and like construction he makes construction blocks. As far as I know him he goes from work to home, he's out here, and from there he goes to his little house where he lives to sleep. He gets up and goes back to work but he hasn't told me he had beef with anyone. So whoever did it had their reasons for doing it."

And while the blood shed by Chanteuse and Mervin still stains the ground, it remains to be seen whether the 16 year old will pull through.

Cecil Martin
"It's a 50 50 situation and it's only god could work a miracle right now to get her back."

Chanteuse Martinez remains in the ICU at the KHMH in a very critical condition.